Pennsylvania Lines West of Pittsburgh. Northwest System. Predecessor and subsidiary companies.

The Northwest System of the Pennsylvania's Lines West operating organization was formed on March 1, 1890, for the purpose of operating the lines of the Pennsylvania Company and its lessor companies. It consisted of a main line between Pittsburgh and Chicago, with branches running from the lake ports of Cleveland, Ashtabula and Erie to the steel-making centers around Pittsburgh and the Mahoning Valley. The Northwest System was abolished in the reorganization of March 1, 1920, and divided between the Central Region and the Northwestern Region. The corporations owning the lines continued to be maintained as shell companies.

Pennsylvania interests had chartered the Ohio & Pennsylvania Rail Road Company in 1848 to build to Crestline, Ohio on a direct line from Pittsburgh to Chicago. The PRR directors approved a subscription of $250,000 to the O&P in September, 1851, but were overruled by the stockholders, particularly the City of Philadelphia, on the grounds that it was imprudent with the PRR's own road unfinished. These objections were not removed until 1853, when the PRR subscribed $300,000 to the O&P and $300,000 to its western extension, the Ohio & Indiana. In 1856, these companies and a second extension, the Ft. Wayne & Chicago, were consolidated to form the Pittsburgh, Ft. Wayne & Chicago Rail Road Company. The road was badly burdened with debt and was hard hit by the financial Panic of 1857. PRR President Thomson had himself appointed Chief Engineer in 1858, and was able to complete the line to Chicago on January 1, 1859.

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